The most helpful favorable review

The most helpful critical review

5.0 out of 5 starsTHE best Pokemon RPG game.
First off, I must address the numerous reviewers who are complaining that Platinum is essentially a remake of Diamond and Pearl versions of Pokemon.

Yes, it is. And everybody should have known that before blowing $40 on it, simply by reading the product description. The third installations of all 4 Pokemon series of games have always been remakes of the...

3.0 out of 5 starsNot all its made out to be
Ok, Alot of people are saying this game is amazing and what not. Im sure these people never played any other pokemon games. I can tell you right now, its not all its made out to be.

Sure, the graphics are superb, and there are cool events, but the story feels... lacking, like something would be started and then forgot about later, and it makes it hard to keep...

First off, I must address the numerous reviewers who are complaining that Platinum is essentially a remake of Diamond and Pearl versions of Pokemon.

Yes, it is. And everybody should have known that before blowing $40 on it, simply by reading the product description. The third installations of all 4 Pokemon series of games have always been remakes of the previous 2. Yellow was an enhanced version of Red and Blue; Crystal was an enhanced version of Gold and Silver; Emerald was an enhanced version of Ruby and Sapphire; and now, Platinum is an enhanced version of Diamond and Pearl.

This is how the Pokemon games have always worked, so it is beyond me why so many people are now complaining about it. Pokemon games typically get 4 1/2 star ratings on Amazon, and Platinum is now poised to have the worst rating out of any Pokemon RPG game, when in reality, it is the best.

Now that that's out of the way...

I partially gave Platinum a 5 star review to counteract some of these 2 and 3-star reviews we're seeing, but I truly think it is a great game. If you have a DS, Platinum will give you as much fun as any other DS game you have. Very casual Pokemon fans who already own Diamond and/or Pearl might not feel the need to buy this game. More serious Pokemon fans, and newcomers to the series, on the other hand, will love this game. I have played through all 13 previous Pokemon RPG games, as well as the Gamecube games, several times each, and Platinum still captivated me enough to get me playing for 5 straight hours without a break! (Not exactly the healthiest thing to do on a regular basis, but parents, think about the possibilities of getting your kids to sit quietly for a few moments...)

As mentioned above, Platinum is essentially a remake of Diamond and Pearl, but with enhancements. The storyline is tweaked a bit to keep things interesting, and there is a new legendary Pokemon for you to capture. Some places have been redesigned, and there are new characters. A very welcome addition is a new Battle Frontier, back from Emerald version. The Battle Frontier will keep you playing hours after you complete the main quest.

Besides all the new changes, the raw appeal of catching Pokemon, training them, and battling with them is ever present in Platinum version, and really, isn't that the reason these games are so loved, anyway? Ultimately I give Platinum version a heartfelt recommendation because it is fun, will provide hours and hours of gameplay, and is accessible, yet challenging. Platinum is the best Pokemon game. Newcomers, start here. Oldtimers...you know what to do.

+Simple, yet addictive gameplay+Deep, strategic combat system+Touch screen controls make battling easier+Wi-fi improvements+Being able to battle trainers all across the globe and being able to trade with them is fantastic+Game can keep you busy for hours with all there is to do, easily over 80 hours worth of gameplay+Some new additions for those who mastered Diamond and Pearl

Cons:

-You can still only save one file-Graphics and sound were outdated even in 2007, and they're still outdated-The formula works, but there are bound to be gamers out there who are sick of the same old storyline-If you mastered Diamond and Pearl you probably won't have much incentive to play through Platinum. This will change from one gamer to the next

When Pokemon Red and Blue came out, Pokemon Yellow followed just a year later to expand on the games. When Pokemon Gold and Silver debuted, Crystal followed shortly thereafter. When Ruby and Sapphire came out, it wasn't long until Emerald followed. It was only a matter of time before Pokemon Diamond and Pearl also got a third version into the mix. Pokemon Platinum. Just like the previous "third" versions of the games, Platinum adds in a few new things, though it's hard to say you'll ultimately want it if you've already got Diamond and/or Pearl and you've already worked your way through them. Then again, you might find some of the extras worthwhile.

Pokemon has been doing the same thing since it came about ten years ago. The formula is so familiar to gamers that there's a "been there, done that" kind of feel all over. You choose a starter and go off from home to collect several Pokemon, collect gym badges and ultimately defeat an evil team of Pokemon Trainers that are up to no good. All the pieces of the formula are there. If you've played any of the previous Pokemon games before then you've been here before. Yet it doesn't stop Pokemon from being an overall addictive game. While some will find Platinum (as well as Diamond and Pearl) to be a little too much of the same thing, the gameplay can't be denied. Pokemon has been doing the same thing for over ten years now, and it's still fun.

Pokemon is actually really strategic and in-depth. That is to say, it requires a lot of thought, and believe me, some of these battles require a lot of your skill. Battles are turn based, where you select a command and then watch a round of combat. There's a paper/rock/scissors effect here, however. Each and every Pokemon has a type, and some of the attacks they use reflect its type. This makes up what deals massive damage, what deals no damage and what deals just normal damage. Grass may be strong against water, for example but grass is also weak against fire, but in turn, fire is weak versus water. This effect plays through with seventeen and different types, and there is no best type because every type has a weakness. It's because of this element that Pokemon is so much fun to play. Just trying to construct the perfect team will take you more than a day, and with over 100 new creatures to collect, you can form endless amounts of teams. Just catching all the Pokemon alone will keep you busy for well over 50 hours. To add to the effect you'll face several other trainers as well, and you never know what they'll throw at you. Your strongest Pokemon may very well become your weakest in certain battles just because of its type.

The battle system itself is made even simpler by the touch screen. Where as before you were scrolling through menus, battling can simply be done by touching the different options on screen. It makes battling a lot faster, especially because the icons are pretty big. Luckily, there's never really a point where you have to use the touch screen if you don't want to, and battling can still be done the old fashioned way if you so choose.

As with Ruby and Sapphire there are also moments of two on two battles. Usually they come with either two trainers taking you on at a time, and you'll send out the two Pokemon in your top roster, or you'll be with another trainer who will send out his or her Pokemon with yours. It adds to the strategic feel of the game, but the moments of two on two battles are pretty few and far between.

Pokemon Platinum adds a couple of new things, though not much. Most notable is, of course, is the distortion world. Aside from this there's not that big of a motive to get Pokemon Platinum if you mastered one of the other two versions. It's great if you don't have either one, but it's hard to want to pick up Platinum just for the Distortion World alone. There are a couple of other little goodies sprinkled about, including improvements in the online factor of the game, but it's still essentially the same game you got two years ago. And for the most part, that isn't bad.

The Pokemon games in and of themselves are full of little hidden secrets. There's so much you can do after the main quest is over. You can also enter into different contests as well as go after legendary Pokemon. Pokemon can easily keep any gamer busy for well over fifty hours.

Pokemon has never really been a game you go after for eye-candy. There are some moments where some 3D effects come out, but not very many. The sprites are more or less the same sprites they've been using since the Red and Blue versions. Ideally, the game doesn't look all that much of a step up from Ruby and Sapphire, and they were not fantastic looking games either. It's really colorful, but the DS is capable of so much more than this. Likewise, in battle is still the same. Fun to do it, but the Pokemon still only flinch to attack, and there aren't a lot of animations going on, and we're still looking over the Pokemon's shoulder. Essentially, the combat engine hasn't changed since the series first outing in 1998. There are some move animations that look really good, but aside from that it's hard to look past the simple fact that the game's combat engine hasn't really evolved since the original games came out way back in 1998. This isn't the original Gameboy, this is the Nintendo DS.

The sound is also no exception. A lot of it sounds really tinny. Most of the sound effects such as the Pokemon's cries are ripped straight from--you guessed it--the original Gameboy versions released in 1998. That's not to say all the tunes sound bad, it's just to say that a lot of what you're going to hear is recycled. While the sound effects are dated, the music certainly isn't. It's upbeat and keeps you on your toes.

In the end, the production values aren't exactly something that'll disappoint you. Though it might still be nice if someday Pokemon could get an update. It's still an improvement.

Despite the games graphics and sound, Pokemon Platinum is still an excellent title. If you don't have Diamond or Pearl, you might as well pick up this one. If there was anything to fret about over Pokemon it would be that it's just too much of the same thing. Not to Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, but to the series as a whole. There are plenty of additions, but the truth still stands: We've been doing the same thing for ten years. But it's still a fun game regardless.

5.0 out of 5 starsPokemon Platinum is an Awesome Video Game!, May 15, 2009

A Kid's Review

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars

This review is from: Pokemon Platinum (Video Game)

This game is extremely fun and worth well more than $34.99.

I have played this game for over 100 hours and own the guide, so you can trust me on everything that is typed in this paragraph.

First of all, if you have ever played any Pokemon games before, you probably know how spectacular these games are. Especially if you have played ones such as, Pokemon Sapphire, Pokemon, Crystal Version, Pokemon - Diamond Version, or any other Pokemon catch-and-train games. Even if you have only played some of the spin-off games, you still probably had an enjoyable experience. If not... how about giving Pokemon another try?

Now I have to admit, some Pokemon have things such as psychic powers, but they do not go into this evil practice. Only, saying that some of the things in the story are related to this. They are born with these powers and do not obtain them from some other source. I just rename psychic with a far less evil name and be done with it.

If you are not allowed to go to chat rooms, you will probably find one major disappointment in this game. There is now a Wi-Fi Plaza, which includes parades, fireworks, minigames, and much, much more. The only thing about this place that stinks is that you, and other players from around the world, can chat.

The catch of Pokemon games is that, unlike most games, instead of getting set abilities and attacks for your character(s), you can build a menagerie of your very own Pokemon, based on your personal likes and dislikes. You train your Pokemon and battle them against other Pokemon, instead of simply winning levels like other games.

If you have played Pokemon Pearl Version or Pokemon - Diamond Version, you might be thinking about not buying this game because of the similarities they share with Platinum. I have Pokemon Pearl and Pokemon Platinum; they both have several differences. A lot of the stuff is the same in both games, such as the gym leaders (though some of them have a few new Pokemon) and the battle tower, which has not been updated much. The storyline has changed greatly though, the battle frontier has returned from Pokemon Emerald Version, and several other updates have been made.

Until you defeat the Pokemon Champion, there are 207 Pokemon to catch (Manaphy, Dialga, and Palkia not included), so just choose your favorite. You start the game with Chimchar, Piplup, or Turtwig, but later on there are many more to choose from, so just choose your favorite.

This game has lots of strategy involved, and a great good-versus-evil storyline.

In conclusion, if you are looking for the perfect DS game, your search has ended.

After I gave away my Gold and Silver (Game Boy Color) versions of Pokemon, I did start to miss playing it. So, when I was given an Amazon gift certificate, I decided I'd buy Pokemon Platinum, since I learned a little bit about the plot details and was quite curious to play. Now, I'm not a massive fan Pokemon like I used to be when I was, say, 9 years old, but I must say this is an extremely fun little game. It has innovative features like Wi-Fi battles and trades, and other AI trainers who will randomly appear Pokemon centers for you battle repeatedly and gain more experience (the levels of their Pokemon go up the more you battle). At 21, I never thought I'd purchase another Pokemon game, but this one was worth every penny. If you have someone you know who's an avid fan of Pokemon, I'd highly recommend this game.

As the title suggests, I believe Platinum is the ultimate Pokemon game in town this year! I mean what sets this apart from the other two and make it better? Lets see....you get Dialga AND Palkia in this game, about HALF the Gyms got revamped with new graphics & style (Pretty much most of the game has gotten additions & some texture changes), all the trainers have different pokemon now, Distortion World which is a unique & interesting place not to mention the huge storyline built around it and Giratina. Also, you have the Battle Frontier with five different areas to explore...you can buy your own Resort House, a Top Trainer Cafe, five new Rotom forms and so much more!

a LOT of people say Platinum is a knock-off clone of Diamond or Pearl, and while it may be VERY similar, there are enough differences in graphics, and gameplay mechanics to make it feel as if it's an entirely new game, not to mention the story is different this time around, if only slightly.

Platinum does a lot of things new, some Gym mazes for example, are completely re-worked and somewhat more challenging. There's different Pokemon to be found in different areas. There's a whole new Wifi aspect to the game, with even more to do with friends.

The game as a whole as been revamped and made ten times better than Diamond or Pearl, so even if you grew completely bored with those games, you may still find incredible fun here in Platinum, and for new comers, dont hesitate to grab a copy and catch em'all!!!

Yes, Nintendo has a bad habit of releasing Version 1.1s of Pokémon games, thus making you wish you had not jumped when the originals first out; but Pokémon Platinum is more than a simple merging of Pokémon Pearl and Diamond.

First off, Platinum has a "Distortion World" area that is all new and a very cool break from the Sinnoh Region. It's kind of like M.C. Escher world in which you walk vertical and horizontal trails. In the end, the Distortion World is totally linear, but it's all new to the Pokémon world.

There are other changes that are far more important including the new "Global Terminal" in which players trade Pokémon worldwide, and the "Wi-Fi Plaza" with its mini-games and Pokémon parades. And then there is the "Battle Frontier." In short, don't think you have mastered Platinum just because you fought your way through Pearl or Diamond.

I never played a lot of pokemon games, but I remember Pokemon XD that I had on my GameCube and how much fun I had with it. Platinum is just as much fun, but I do wish they would actually show the pokemon using their moves in battle. It doesn't even have to be a 3D look to it. They could just flash a cartoon short of the pokemon using it's moves. Still fun battling, leveling up, and evolving pokemon though. I don't like to rush through the game, I like to level up and evolve as many pokemon as possible. As you can probably guess, this game is really taking me for ever. I've never had Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, but you can still trade someone else for the same pokemon.